Nayab Singh Saini Hits Back at Congress, says Budget Not ‘Ankadon ka Makkar Jaal’ but Roadmap for Viksit Haryana
Working at Four Times the Pace for the Next Generation: CM Nayab Singh Saini
5 Dariya News
Chandigarh 17-Mar-2026
Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, while delivering a strong and factual response to the Opposition's statement of calling the State Budget ‘Ankadon ka makkar jaal’, said that such statements highlight the Opposition’s deliberate attempt to mislead the public. The state government is working non-stop at four times the pace, with a clear focus on securing the future of the coming generations and building a ‘Viksit Haryana’ well before 2047, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, the Chief Minister said that Congress leaders appear increasingly disconnected from grassroots realities and remain confined to five-star hotels and air-conditioned spaces, which, he added, explains their inability to appreciate the transformative intent of the budget.
He questioned whether any of its finance ministers had ever presented a vision extending even two years ahead, while reiterating that the present government’s policies are designed with a long-term developmental perspective. Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that the state budget is focused not on short-term gains but on ensuring a strong and prosperous future for the state.
He said that it is really unfortunate to see how the Opposition fails to appreciate the importance of chaupals and rural pathways and has even objected to empowering panchayats with funds for their upkeep. Emphasizing that governance must go beyond immediate political considerations, the Chief Minister said that true leadership lies in planning for future generations.
Children born in 2026-27 will be 21 years old in 2047, and it is our resolve that they step into a developed Haryana, he said, adding that every provision in the budget reflects this long-term commitment.
CM Rebuts Opposition Claims on Unemployment, Calls Out ‘Factually Incorrect’ Data
Responding to allegations of rising unemployment, the Chief Minister said the Opposition had overlooked the repeated emphasis on jobs in the budget, noting that the terms ‘jobs’ and ‘employment’ have been used 15 times. He also questioned the credibility of the data cited by Opposition leaders, stating that the figures attributed to the CMIE are not available on the organisation’s official website.
Citing the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation for October–December 2025, he said Haryana’s unemployment rate stands at 5 percent, which is significantly lower than neighbouring states such as Himachal Pradesh (7.2%) and Punjab (7%).
The Chief Minister said the government has taken concrete steps to address unemployment, adding that since 2014, as many as 1.80 lakh youth have been provided government jobs purely on merit.
Per Capita Income Row: CM Slams ‘Basic Economic Misunderstanding’
Responding to Opposition claims on per capita income, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said linking it with family income data reflects a lack of even basic economic understanding. He said the opposition questioned how the per capita income is being stated as around Rs. 3.95 lakh while data from the Parivar Pehchan Patra shows that a large number of families earn less than Rs. 1.80 lakh annually.
He remarked that linking these two figures reflects a lack of basic understanding of economics, something even a Class 12 student would typically grasp. The Chief Minister explained that across the world—whether in the United States, New Zealand, or any Indian state—per capita income is calculated using a standard method: dividing the total GDP of a state or country by its population.
The resulting figure represents per capita income. Based on this universally accepted formula, Haryana’s per capita income stands at approximately Rs. 3.95 lakh, and this is not an arbitrary number. He further pointed out inconsistencies within the opposition’s own claims.
Some leaders say over 51 lakh families earn less than Rs. 1.80 lakh annually, while others claim that 60% of the population lives below the poverty line, indicating a lack of coherence in their arguments.
Rs. 834 crore disbursed Under Lado Lakshmi Scheme; CM Assures more funds if needed
Addressing allegations about insufficient budget allocation for the Deendayal Lado Lakshmi Scheme, the Chief Minister said that according to the opposition, there are around 82.5 lakh women in the 18–60 age group in the state. Providing Rs. 2,100 per month to all of them would require an annual budget of about ₹20,000 crore.
However, he clarified that even without this scheme, around 34.27 lakh women in this age group are already receiving Rs. 3,200 per month under various welfare schemes such as old-age pension, widow pension, unmarried pension, and disability support. He questioned why the opposition wants to include these beneficiaries in the Lado Lakshmi scheme, as they are unlikely to opt for a lower benefit.
He added that the government has set up an online portal for registration under the scheme. Applications are verified for eligibility, and eligible women receive ₹2,100 per month. So far, 9,56,095 women have been found eligible, and Rs. 834.77 crore has already been disbursed in five installments directly into their bank accounts.
The government has allocated ₹6,500 crore for the scheme and assured that if this amount falls short, additional funds will be provided through a supplementary budget.
CM rejects ‘Unsafe State’ Tag, Calls NCRB Data Misinterpreted
The Chief Minister also responded to allegations made by Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda regarding crime in the state. He said presenting incomplete information to tarnish the state’s image is not appropriate for the dignity of the House. He clarified that NCRB data only provides annual crime statistics and does not categorize states as “most dangerous” or “safest.”
Therefore, he termed the claim that Haryana is among the ten most dangerous states in the country as misleading and baseless. He emphasized that the state government is fully committed to strengthening law and order and ensuring public safety. According to him, recent data indicate significant improvements in crime control and overall security in the state.